Monoclonal antibodies against human dendritic cell-like peripheral blood monocytes activated by granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin 4.

Human peripheral blood monocytes activated by GM-CSF plus IL-4 have recently been found to exhibit characteristics of putative dendritic cells (DC). These cytokine-activated monocytes (CAM) may express novel activation Ag that contribute significantly to their antigen presentation potency. To examine that possibility, mAb specific for CAM were derived. Seven mAb that stained CAM but not unactivated monocytes and other peripheral blood mononuclear cell types were identified. Further screening with a panel of cell lines identified two CAM-specific mAb. The first mAb, 2.1D10, was found to be mannose-receptor specific. A second mAb, 6.3B7, immunoprecipitated a 190-kDa Ag. It stained neither activated B cells nor the putative peripheral blood precursor DC population. Furthermore, 6.3B7 did not recognize determinants in asparagine-linked carbohydrate chains or in sialic acid-containing structures. These mAb against CAM membrane proteins may provide new insights into the requirements for optimal antigen presentation by macrophages and other APC types.